787 Dreamliner Completes "Power On" Milestone

The first has completed its Power On sequence, moving ever closer to the first flight planned for fourth quarter of this year.

Boeing identifies Power On as a "complex series of tasks and tests that bring electrical power onto the airplane and begin to exercise the use of the electrical systems." The 787 is touted as a "more-electric" airplane, with electronics replacing the pneumatic system.

After a series of tests performed in early June to verify proper installation of wiring in the aircraft, Boeing brought full power into each segment of the plane, starting with the flight deck displays, by way of an external power cart. According to Boeing's press release, the pilot's controls directed the addition of new systems to the power grid. Starting Monday, Boeing will feature an inside look at the Power On testing sequence online.

Industrial workplaces are governed by OSHA rules, but this isn’t to say that rules are always followed. While injuries happen on production floors for a variety of reasons, of the top 10 OSHA rules that are most often ignored in industrial settings, two directly involve machine design: lockout/tagout procedures (LO/TO) and machine guarding.

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